Cause of Lubec man’s death unknown

LUBEC, Maine — The cause of death of a 27-year-old local man who died earlier this month while harvesting periwinkles in Lubec Channel not far from his home is still unknown.

On Monday, a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner’s office said only that the cause of death of Kristopher Fergerson was not being announced “pending further studies.”

She declined to elaborate.

Fergerson was reported missing by his friend Dennis Knox, 47, on Tuesday, Dec. 2, while harvesting periwinkles, known locally as “wrinkles,” near the Lubec Channel Light.

When the tide started to come in, Knox returned to his car on Lower Water Street, but Fergerson did not follow. Knox notified law enforcement and a search involving multiple agencies was launched.

Fergerson’s body was found nine days later when a local resident walking the beach discovered him lying just above the high-tide mark less than three-quarters of a mile from Lower Water Street and within view of the Lubec Channel Light, also called the Sparkplug.

The resident, Charles Legris, returned to his house and called police.

Police arrived and the section of beach along South Lubec Road was cordoned off Thursday night, Dec. 11, while freezing rain and ice pelted the area.

Fergerson shared a house on South Lubec Road with Knox and Knox’s girlfriend.